Keslyn Secrist notched her first career double-double with 20 points and a career-high 11 rebounds Thursday night, but a poor shooting performance proved costly for Indiana State in a 63-58 loss to Southern Illinois inside Hulman Center.
Secrist was the lone Sycamore in double-figures, with Bella Finnegan and Savannah White adding nine and eight, respectively. Deja Jones finished with seven points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
After a low-scoring opening quarter, Indiana State’s offense came alive in the second. Secrist led the charge with 10 points in the period, including a pair of threes, as the Trees built a double-digit lead and ended up taking a 36-29 at the half. Southern Illinois came out strong to start the third and took the lead midway through, but a Finnegan trey and a Jones basket just before the horn had the Sycamores up four heading to the fourth. Secrist kept the Sycamores ahead early in the fourth with five points, including a 3-pointer, but SIU hit three treys and took the lead for good with just over two minutes remaining.
First Half
Secrist and Mia Simpson opened the Sycamores’ scoring with midrange baskets, but Southern Illinois used a strong paint presence to build an early five-point lead. Simpson and Queen Ruffin hit layups late in the period, as Indiana State closed strong to cut SIU’s lead to 12-11 after the opening quarter.
Early baskets from Ruffin and White leveled the score at 15-all less than two minutes into the second, with White and Secrist quickly tacking on layups to put the Sycamores in front. Secrist connected on a pair of threes to increase the lead to 27-18, and later added a layup to extend Indiana State’s advantage to double-digits. Finnegan hit a three of her own with just over a minute remaining in the half, as the Sycamores took a 36-29 lead into the intermission.
Second Half
Southern Illinois started the third quarter with a 6-0 run before Secrist knocked down a three-ball to put the Trees ahead 39-35. White added a layup midway through, but the visitors continued their strong start to the quarter and took a 43-41 lead just past the midway point of the quarter. Finnegan connected on a trey to level the score at 45-apiece, and Jones scored four points in the last two minutes of the frame, as the Sycamores took a 49-45 lead to the fourth.
Southern Illinois reclaimed the lead with a pair of early threes in the fourth quarter, but Secrist hit a trey of her own to put Indiana State back in front 53-51. Secrist added a floater midway through to keep the Sycamores ahead, but Southern Illinois countered with a 9-1 run late in the game with a 3-pointer putting the Salukis ahead for good with just over two minutes to play. Indiana State couldn’t get off a good look from behind the arc in the late stages, as the Salukis eked out a 63-58 win over the Sycamores.
News and Notes
· Keslyn Secrist’s 11 rebounds were a career-high and marked her first career game with double-digit rebounds.
· Indiana State took care of the ball in Thursday’s game, with the Sycamores committing a season-low 10 turnovers.
· Indiana State pulled down a season-high 22 offensive rebounds in Thursday’s game.
· Indiana State limited Southern Illinois to 4-for-19 from behind the arc, but three of the Salukis’ four 3-pointers came in the fourth quarter as part of their comeback.
Up Next
Indiana State closes its three-game homestand Sunday at 2 p.m. against Missouri State.
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